BUYING USED GEAR
ON A BUDGET
Getting second-hand kit makes sense right now, so we pick out some unbelievable bargains THE BEST!
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
I n times of escalating inflation and tight budgets, buying used camera equipment is an obvious choice – for your bottom line and for the planet. There are a vast array of pre-loved bargains on the market, both with older-generation models that still deliver the goods through to the latest cameras and lenses drifting through to the used market. All offer massive savings over brand new and you avoid the big hit in depreciation that early adopters have been crippled with. Read on!
CAMCORDER: CANON XF405
Canon’s XF405 camcorder uses a 1.0- type sensor capable of recording 4K in a small and lightweight all-in-one body. Add on a removable top handle with twin XLR inputs, SD card slots and a viewfinder, plus a touchscreen meant for major setting changes rather than lots of external buttons. Because the large sensor size means depth-of-field can be kept shallow – calling for precise focus – the camera features advanced autofocus. It was the first camcorder to come with Dual Pixel technology from Canon’s cinema camera range. The lens includes vibration reduction, which works with the camera’s sensor-based image stabilisation. It can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app, has built-in ND filters and a switch to switch the optic from manual to autofocus. The Canon is 8-bit if you record internally and doesn’t shoot C-Log, but does capture 4K at up to 60p at 150Mbps, so it’s fine for a bit of half-speed slow motion. You can get 10-bit 4:2:2, but this needs to be output over SDI or HDMI to an external recorder. At around £1400/$1500 used, it’s a great purchase.
WHERE TO BUY USED
cameraworld.co.uk cliftoncameras.co.uk cvp.com theflashcentre.com ffordes.com mpb.com parkcameras.com proav.com specialauction services.com srsmicrosystems.co.uk wexphotovideo.com wilkinson.co.uk
RUN AND GUN The Canon XF405 was the first camcorder to include the Dual Pixel AF system, which makes a huge difference in keeping everything sharp
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